This remnant will be replaced soon. The FAQ is back, with a new design! What is "Hall in Solace"? Early on, "Paul and Silas" was misunderstood... even by Phish! Source of Confusion: When Phish first started playing this tune, Trey introduced it as "Hall in Solace" and the band sang those words in the chorus, but the song is commonly known as "Paul and Silas" and that's what the band sings now. Multiple titles are given on various blugrass albums, including "All Night Long" and "Who Shall Deliver Me", but Trey had been exposed only to a recording. The version considered definitive (and called "Paul and Silas") is on the Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs release The Earl Scruggs Revue, a self-titled release by the band thencefoth known as The Earl Scruggs Revue (though Lester Flatts isn't on any other ESR releases.) In recent interviews, the band does recognize (as do most netters) that the accepted title is "Paul and Silas", although Trey has still occassionally introduced it has "Hall in Solace," and apparently does not consider this "error" a hindrance to musical enjoyment; or, quite possibly, he likes to tease. Thanks to John Friedman (former keeper of the HPB), Shelly Culbertson, and Caleb Brown. Phish initially played the tune 9-13-90; it was then frequent for a bit and then rare, then not played from 10/24/95 to 2/28/97, and has been rare since. Meaning of the Lyrics: Paul Crittenden emailed (12/22/98) noting a connection the New Testament of the Christian Bible: "Both of my grandfathers are Baptist ministers, so I have heard many times the story of Paul & Silas in jail. According to Acts (16:19-21; 16:2526 KJV), they were imprisoned for preaching the Gospel: 'And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them./And then suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bands were loosed.' I believe that this is a nice illustration of the incredible power music has to free one's soul. Too bad Phish didn't pick up on this reference when they began covering the song, as I think it relates to many of the philosophies the guys try to get across each night on tour." St. Silas: "One of the leaders of the Church of Jerusalem, Silas was sent with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch to communicate the decisions of the Council of Jerusalem to the Gentile community in Syria. When Paul and Barnabas quarreled over Paul Mark, Silas was chosen by Paul to accompany him on his second missionary journey to Syria, Cilicia, and Macedonia. Silas was beaten and imprisoned with Paul at Philippi, was involved with Paul in the riot of Jews at Thessalonica that drove Paul and Silas from the city to Beroea, remained at Beroea with Timothy when Paul left, but rejoined him at Corinth. The Silvanus mentioned with Timothy by Paul and who helped him preach at Corinth is believed to be the same as Silas, since Silvanus is a Greek variant of the Semitic Silas. Silvanus is also mentioned as the man through whom Peter communicated and is considered by some scholars to be the author of that epistle. Tradition says he was the first bishop of Corinth and that he died in Macedonia. His feast day is July 13th." "The music exists in the universe, and if you're lucky enough, or strong enough, to get your ego out of the way, the music comes through you."" -- Trey Anastasio (source unknown)" This page last updated February 03, 2007. All contents © 1992-2007 Ellis Godard. All rights reserved.